McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

Photo by Lowell Warner

(Right) The F-4 Phantom II (top left) was the most widely used combat jet of its time. It was designed for Fleet Air defense and as an attack aircraft for the Navy. It could take off from a carrier, climb to 50,000 feet, and fly at Mach 2.2 to intercept enemy aircraft. Although very effective in various roles, it had odd shaped airfoils, droop snoot nose and large air intakes giving it nicknames like, Double Ugly and Rhino. The fact it was so fast and wanted to keep flying when landing on a runway earned it the name of "lead sled.